Iraq: Legality of Armed Force

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Attorney-General informed individuals outside the Cabinet that it was his clear view that military action under Resolution 1441 was lawful, rather than first communicating it to the Cabinet.

Lord Goldsmith: The Law Officers do not routinely give their advice to the Cabinet. In general, advice is given to the Minister or department which has requested it. In the case of Iraq, I submitted my advice to the Prime Minister as referred to in paragraph 378 of the Butler report and informed a number of his advisers as referred to in paragraphs 378 and 381.

Iraq: Legality of Armed Force

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Goldsmith on 28 February (WA 1), whether the Attorney-General sought any written advice from (a) the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; (b) the Secretary of State for Defence; or (c) the Chief of the Defence Staff on their views about the extent of Iraqi non-compliance with Resolution 1441 before giving his clear view to the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 13 March 2003; and, if so, when.

Lord Goldsmith: No. As is clear from paragraphs 379 and 383-384 of the Butler report, I considered that it was for the Prime Minister "to be satisfied that there were strong factual grounds for concluding that Iraq had failed to take the final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Security Council and that it was possible to demonstrate hard evidence of non-compliance and non-co-operation with the requirements of Security Council Resolution 1441, so as to justify the conclusion that Iraq was in further material breach of its obligations".

Iraq: Legality of Armed Force

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which members of the United States Administration the Attorney-General met or contacted prior to issuing his view on the legality of military action in Iraq.

Lord Goldsmith: I refer to the Answer given by my right honourable friend the Solicitor-General to the honourable Member for Hampstead and Highgate on 30 November 2004 (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 48W).

Iraq: Legality of Armed Force

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Goldsmith on 14 March (WA 107–108), where the meeting between the Attorney-General, the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff and foreign policy adviser and the Director of Government Relations took place; and which other officials were present for part of all of the meeting.

Lord Goldsmith: The meeting took place at No. 10 Downing Street. No other officials were present.

European Union: UK Presidency

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the cost of producing the logo for the United Kingdom's six-month presidency of the European Union.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The cost of producing the logo for the UK's six-month presidency of the European Union is £10,000. The total cost associated with this project is £35,000 and includes additional costs such as design integrity guidelines and trade marking.

Small Arms: Georgia

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are supporting the efforts of the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development to establish a National Council for small arms control in Georgia.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK Government place a high priority on combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and are supportive of plans to establish a National Council for small arms control in Georgia. Our ambassador to Georgia recently spoke at a seminar on this issue in Tbilisi, organised by the UK non-governmental organisation Saferworld in collaboration with the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development. His speech highlighted the UK objectives of: strengthening controls on the supply of small arms and light weapons; reducing the availability of weapons; and addressing the demand for weapons. Following the seminar, the government of Georgia made a commitment to establish an inter-agency commission on arms in the near future. The UK provides financial support to Saferworld for its work in Georgia through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool.

Malawi

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the government of Malawi concerning former Finance Minister Friday Junbe who is alleged to have stolen £2.1 million to build an hotel.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We fully support the government of Malawi in their drive against corruption. The UK is also the principal contributor to the Anti-Corruption Bureau's budget, and has been at the forefront of developing a national integrity framework to raise standards of probity in public life.
	We have no plans to make representations in the case of the former Finance Minister, Friday Junbe, which is before the courts.

European Union: Ambassadors

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the statement by Mr Brian Crowe, a former European Union diplomat, that, in future, European Union ambassadors are likely to be more important than national ambassadors and that, over time, this will lead to the closing of many national embassies.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Constitutional Treaty makes clear that the proposed European External Action Service would work alongside—not replace—member states' diplomatic services and their missions overseas. It would seek to support the European Union (EU) Foreign Minister in ensuring consistent implementation of EU common foreign policy, as agreed by member states. The Constitutional Treaty would not make the heads of EU delegations overseas "more important" than British Ambassadors or High Commissioners. Nor would the Constitutional Treaty or the establishment of a European External Action Service require the closure of British missions. Member states will continue to make sovereign decisions on the geographical spread of their national diplomatic networks. The UK will continue to ensure that our diplomatic network provides effective promotion and protection of UK interests overseas.

Cyprus

Baroness Knight of Collingtree: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they intend to take to end the isolation of Turkish Cyprus.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We intend to continue arguing strongly in the European Union (EU) for the passing of both the draft direct trade and financial aid regulations, in line with the 26 April 2004 mandate from EU Foreign Ministers.
	We shall also continue to support further improvements to the green line regulation, to facilitate intra-island trade.
	The Government also provide technical assistance for the Turkish Cypriots to help raise standards towards EU norms.

Cyprus

Baroness Knight of Collingtree: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 2 February (WA 42), which member states are blocking the European Commission proposal to allow direct trade between European Union countries and Northern Cyprus; and whether the decision will be subject to:
	(a) unanimity; or
	(b) qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The European Commission's proposed regulation on direct trade uses a legal base which would be subject to qualified majority voting. There has been no vote on this regulation, but some member states have expressed reservations about aspects of the regulation, including the legal base itself, and the Republic of Cyprus has expressed firm opposition. The Government support the proposal and are working to reassure those partners who have doubts that this regulation would be an effective way to fulfil the European Union's commitment to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Cyprus

Baroness Knight of Collingtree: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they can ensure that undertakings given to Turkish Cypriots by the European Union are honoured.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government strongly support the European Union's (EU) commitment to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and facilitate the reunification of Cyprus. We believe the Commission's proposed regulations providing financial assistance and enabling direct trade between northern Cyprus and the EU are essential to achieve this aim. We are using these arguments to encourage those EU partners with reservations to support these regulations.

Bosnia: War Crimes

Lord Russell-Johnston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what circumstances Gosko Jankovic, accused of war crimes during the Bosnian War, came from Moscow to give himself up to the Hague Tribunal on 14 March.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK Government can confirm that Gojko Jankovic surrendered to the Bosnian-Serb authorities in Banja Luka on 13 March 2005, and was transferred to the Hague Tribunal on 14 March.

Bosnia: War Crimes

Lord Russell-Johnston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they made representations to the Russian Government on protection given to Gosko Jankovic, accused of war crimes during the Bosnian War.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK Government continue to work closely with partners as well as with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, on all matters relating to the tribunal and outstanding fugitive indictees.

Burma (Myanmar)

Lord Steel of Aikwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the British embassy in Rangoon last had access to Aung San Suu Kyi, currently under house arrest.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Our ambassador in Rangoon last met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in April. 2003. Since she was detained on 30 May 2003, the Burmese regime has failed to respond to repeated requests by our ambassador to call on her.
	We have repeatedly called for her immediate release, most recently in a press statement issued on 30 November 2004 when we made clear that her continued detention is completely unjustified and unacceptable. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press–releases. The day before, my honourable friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Douglas Alexander) raised her case with the Burmese Ambassador. We continue to highlight her detention with the Burmese, reminding the regime that our European Union and international partners, including the United Nations and the Association of South East Asian Nations, have all called for the restrictions on her to be lifted and that we hold the regime responsible for her safety and security. Our embassy in Rangoon monitors the situation closely and maintains regular contact with the National League for Democracy. Aung San Suu Kyi's doctor is able to visit her occasionally and we understand she is in good health.

Iraq: Multinational Forces

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will present proposals to Parliament on how they intend to respond to the withdrawal from Iraq of the military contingents of a number of countries, including Spain, New Zealand, Ukraine, Poland and Italy.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK, as lead nation in Multi-National Division South East (MND SE), works closely with our allies, including Iraq, to provide the necessary security arrangements in light of any withdrawals from that sector.
	We welcome Australia's decision to send 450 troops to al-Muthanna province, which will greatly assist the task of replacing Dutch forces that withdrew in March. New Zealand's contingent of military engineers withdrew from Basra in September 2004, when their mission was complete. This was closely co-ordinated with the UK.
	Poland, Ukraine and Italy have all made it clear that they will discuss any drawdown with their Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) and Iraqi partners. Italy has made clear that any drawdown will also be dependent on the development of the Iraqi Security Forces.
	As lead nation in MNF-I US forces replaced the departing Spanish forces in May 2004.

Iran: Baha'i Community

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they last made representations to the government of Iran about the treatment of Baha'i religious minority; whether similar representations have been made by the European Union; and, in either case, what responses were received concerning:
	(a) the exclusion of Baha'is from list of four recognised religions;
	(b) the denial of higher education to Baha'is;
	(c) the destruction of Baha'i graves and historic buildings; and
	(d) loss of pensions and posts in government employment affecting Baha'is.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have pressed the Iranian authorities on many occasions to address international concerns about the situation of the Baha'i community. European Union (EU) representatives did so most recently on 24 November 2004. The UK and other EU countries co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2004. This expressed serious concern at "the increased discrimination against the Baha'is, including . . . the destruction of sites of religious importance, the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions and other benefits". The Iranian authorities maintain that the situation of the Baha'is has improved; we are not aware of evidence that would support this.

Brock Barracks

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the overall area and the total floor space at Brock Barracks, Oxford Road, Reading; what proportion of that site is used for military purposes; and what value was recorded for the land and buildings on this site on the balance sheet of the Ministry of Defence as at 31 March 2004; and
	What are their intentions for the future use of the land and buildings at Brock Barracks, Oxford Road, Reading; and whether they have plans for any change of use for any part of that site.

Lord Bach: The overall area of Brock Barracks is some 2 hectares; the total available floor space is 4,325m 2 and the entire site is used for military and cadet activities. The site was valued at £4.6 million as of 31 March 2004.
	As outlined by the Secretary of State for Defence in his announcement about the future army structure on 16 December 2004, the structure of the Territorial Army (TA) is currently being rebalanced so that it can be integrated more effectively with the Regular Army. This work may have implications for the existing estate, but at present there are no plans to change the current use of Brock Barracks.

Community Forums

Lord Varley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Standards Board for England has the legal authority to investigate complaints made against lay co-opted members of community forums established under the Local Government Act 2000, in particular where the lay co-opted members have no voting rights on matters decided exclusively by elected members of local authorities; and
	Whether lay co-opted members of community forums established under the Local Government Act 2000, who are not entitled to vote on matters that are decided by elected members of local authorities, can be investigated by the Standards Board for England in the event of a complaint being made about their conduct at community forum meetings.

Lord Rooker: The Local Government Act 2000 provides for a code of conduct to apply to members and co-opted members of every relevant authority. The Standards Board for England polices the code.
	The Act defines a co-opted member as a person who is not a member of the authority but who is a member of any committee or sub-committee and who is entitled to vote on any question which falls to be decided by that committee or sub-committee. Where a community forum is deemed, under a council's constitution, to be a meeting of the authority, whether or not a co-opted member is subject to the code of conduct will depend on whether he meets the criteria set out in the Act. It would follow that in the case of a co-opted member with no entitlement to vote the code of conduct would not apply.

Rough Sleepers

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government;
	Why rough sleeping is still permitted nightly in the shop doorways on Victoria Street, SW1 between New Scotland Yard and Victoria station.

Lord Rooker: Westminster City Council has the responsibility for addressing rough sleeping in the local area. While the Government do not set targets to reduce rough sleeping in specific areas such as that between New Scotland Yard and Victoria Station, there have been significant reductions in the level of rough sleeping across all of Westminster with the last count on 8 March 2005 recording 133 rough sleepers across the borough.
	Westminster acknowledges that rough sleeping around Victoria Street continues to be one of London's most visible and troublesome hotspots. From July 2005 Westminster is moving to a buildings based model of service delivery, with the emphasis on rough sleepers coming indoors for rapid assessment. The aim is to help vulnerable people into appropriate services that will enable them to sustain accommodation, to divert others new to the area, and bring about real reductions in people using the area to bed down at night.
	The Government's Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate continues to work with Westminster City Council to reduce rough sleeping in the area still further.

Railway Archives

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What role the Department for Constitutional Affairs has in maintaining railway archives in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs has ministerial responsibility for the National Archives, which holds railway records of national significance covered by the Public Records Acts. The National Archives also provides advice on best professional practice to other archive services throughout the country that hold railway records.

Railway Archives

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance they intend to give to the Keeper of the National Archives to secure the future of the nation's railway industry records.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Government do not intend to give the Chief Executive of the National Archives (TNA) guidance on this matter at this time. TNA will continue to select railway records covered by the Public Records Acts for permanent preservation, in accordance with its established acquisition and selection policies. TNA's expert staff are also available to provide advice on the management and long-term care of railway records held by other bodies.

Railway Archives

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What resources will be made available to safeguard the records of the nation's railway industry.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The National Archives will continue to hold and to make publicly available those railway records covered by the Public Records Act of enduring historical value in accordance with its acquisition and selection policies. It also resources an advisory service which disseminates best practice in relation to records in paper or digital form to public and private bodies alike. The National Railway Museum in York, part of the National Museum for Science and Industry sponsored by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, has a wealth of other collections of national significance relating to the railway industry. It is currently developing plans under the search engine project to improve the preservation of, and public access to, these collections.

Children

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given to the recommendations of Room for improvement: a manifesto for children, published by a coalition of children's charities; and whether there is any action they will be taking.

Lord Filkin: The Government share the ambition of Room for improvement: a manifesto for children that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential and no child should be forgotten or invisible in our society. This is exactly the central goal of Every Child Matters published in September 2003. The authors of the manifesto explicitly recognise the many improvements made by the Government and devolved administrations in the well-being of children and young people.
	Our programme of transforming services for children and young people, Every Child Matters: Change for Children, will improve outcomes for all children and young people and narrow the gap between children who do well and those who do not. Our reforms aim to ensure that the individual needs of children, including those in the most difficult circumstances described in Room for improvement, are the focus of attention of everyone working with children and young people.
	Room for improvement draws on examples of the very difficult circumstances faced by some children and young people. We do not underestimate the difficulties that such children face and we will continue to work with the statutory and voluntary sectors through the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme to address their problems in practical and equitable ways.

European Stability and Growth Pact

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What suggestions for improvement they submitted to their Euro-X counterparts in the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, in respect of the Stability and Growth Pact amendment discussions.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government have consistently argued for a prudent interpretation of the Stability and Growth Pact that takes account of country-specific factors including debt sustainability, the economic cycle and public investment.

Battle of Fulford

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they will take to prevent the destruction, through inappropriate commercial development, of the site of the Battle of Fulford, held on 20 September 1066.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: English Heritage, our statutory adviser, is closely monitoring the situation. It will continue to keep the Department for Culture, Media and Sport informed of any developments regarding this site.

Public Finances

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the statement by the Institute of Fiscal Studies that the Chancellor will have to increase taxes by £11 billion if the Government should win the next election.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Budget 2005 projections, based on independently audited cautious assumptions, show that the Government are meeting their strict fiscal rules over the current cycle and beyond and that Spending Review 2004 spending plans are fully affordable within our fiscal forecast.

Pensions: Company Responsibilities

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What study has been made of United Kingdom subsidiaries of parent companies domiciled outside the United Kingdom seeking to evade their United Kingdom pension responsibilities; and what action they propose to take on this matter.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: No such study has been undertaken. It is for individual countries to develop policies and laws to protect the interests of members of private and occupational pension schemes, although the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA) has cases where it is dealing with parent companies abroad.
	In cases where the parent company is domiciled outside the UK and the UK company is unable or unwilling to stand behind its pension promises, OPRA—from 6 April 2005, the Pensions Regulator—will engage with the parent company and, where appropriate, exercise powers to try to protect the pension scheme.
	It is expected that most companies want to stand behind their pension obligations. The EU directive on the activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision (directive 2003/41/EC) will provide a common framework of protection across EU member states.

Mobile Phones

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department of Health leaflet 22883 Mobile Phones and Health, issued in January 2002 based on the Stewart report in May 2000, gives a fair, balanced and up-to-date view of the risks associated with mobile phones; and, if not, whether they will withdraw it from circulation and issue an updated version.

Lord Warner: The leaflet Mobile Phones and Health was first issued in December 2000 and further copies were printed in January 2002, issued to cope with the demand at that time. Although some of its information is now dated, the health advice in the leaflets is still appropriate today. The advice was originally based on the conclusions and recommendations of the 2000 Stewart report. The National Radiological Protection Board in its recent report, Mobile Phones and Health 2004, "believes that the main conclusions reached in the Stewart report in 2000 still apply today and that a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phones technologies should continue to be adopted". A new version of the leaflet providing updated information is currently being considered.

Bowel Cancer

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What specific actions they are taking to raise awareness of bowel cancer in the United Kingdom and the importance of its early detection.

Lord Warner: As we prepare to launch the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme from April 2006, we are actively discussing with key stakeholders, including the voluntary sector, how best to prepare the public to make the decision to take up their invitations for screening. At the same time we are discussing how best to raise the public awareness of bowel cancer in general.

Clinical Trials

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the impact of the European Union Clinical Trials Directive on the commencement and conduct of clinical trials in the United Kingdom.

Lord Warner: The United Kingdom Clinical Trials Regulations to implement the Clinical Trials Directive came into force on 1 May 2004. The Government will review the impact of the implementation of the Clinical Trials Directive when all the member states have implemented the directive and the Commission has published its directive on good clinical practice and final detailed guidance.
	Transitional arrangements allowed holders of existing authorisations or exemptions to roll them over as clinical trial authorisations without applying again to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) or paying a fee. The MHRA has met its deadline of 14 days for Phase I applications and of 30 days for all other applications.
	In the UK the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and the Pharmaceutical Industry Competitiveness Taskforce are monitoring the implementation. The industry has identified few problems. The UK Clinical Research Collaboration sent a questionnaire to trialists of non-commercial trials and the responses are being analysed.

Clinical Trials

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the numbers of cancer patients taking part in clinical trials (a) in each year since 1997; (b) in each year since the adoption of the European Union Clinical Trials Directive in the United Kingdom; and (c) for breast, bowel, prostate and lung cancer respectively; and what assessment they have made of the long-term effects of the directive on United Kingdom clinical trials recruitment figures.

Lord Warner: This information has historically not been collected centrally and therefore there is no database or information source available which can provide the answers to these questions at the present time.
	Article 11 of the European Union Directive 2001/20/EC required the establishment of a European database accessible to the competent authorities of the member states, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and the Commission and containing information on all clinical trial authorisation applications. Although data from 1 May 2004 are now being collected, this database is still under development by the EMEA. However, in the future it is expected that this will provide an information source to address this type of question.

Clinical Trials

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What specific actions they are taking to improve their guidance to academic research facilities on how to adopt and work within the parameters of the European Union Clinical Trials Directive.

Lord Warner: Since the directive was agreed in 2001, the Department of Health and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have consulted widely. The department and the Medical Research Council (MRC) established a joint project on the specific concerns raised by those involved in publicly funded trials. The joint project assisted trialists by identifying and documenting best practice in those areas that are regulated under the directive. It identified solutions and made information and advice available to trialists on a project website.
	The work begun in the joint project is continuing in the United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration. The collaboration includes representatives from the main funding bodies for clinical research in the UK, academic medicine, the National Health Service, regulatory bodies and representatives from industry and patient groups. One work stream is to streamline regulatory and governance processes associated with clinical research in the UK. Following an analysis of the cumulative effects of existing regulations, it will aim to enhance the research capability in the UK by developing and communicating best practice in relation to both research governance and statutory regulations.
	The department is working closely with the MHRA to try to influence the Commission and other member states to introduce "specific modalities" for non-commercial trials that respond to the needs of the UK academic research community and the wider European academic community.
	The European Union Commission consulted in July 2004 on a Directive on Good Clinical Practice which referred to "specific modalities" that member states might introduce for non-commercial trials conducted by researchers without the participation of the pharmaceutical industry. When the directive is published, the Commission will also issue guidance on the "specific modalities". A draft which addresses many of the issues raised by the academic research community is currently being considered by the Commission Working Group on Clinical Trials. The MHRA is represented on the Commission working group and is actively involved in the development of this guideline.

Clinical Trials

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will discuss with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency possible improvements to the guidance the agency currently provides to academic research facilities on how to adopt and work within the parameters of the European Union Clinical Trials Directive.

Lord Warner: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has introduced a number of services to assist trialists in the preparation of their Clinical Trial Authorisation applications. These include:
	Enquiry help lines by phone and e-mail so that prospective applicants could discuss with assessment staff what was needed in their application and how to fill out the forms.
	Detailed information published on the MHRA's website including "Frequently Asked Questions and Answers" and "How to submit a Clinical Trial Authorisation application".
	Specimen "mock" applications as examples of what was needed.
	In addition a number of workshops and symposia have been organised to both communicate the changes required by the directive and assist in the interpretation of these requirements.
	The MHRA and the department have jointly worked on projects such as the Department of Health/Medical Research Council Joint Project and the United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) to develop, communicate and share best practice in relation to research governance and statutory regulations, particularly in relation to academic research.
	The department, including the MHRA, will continue to remain in close contact with interested parties in the UK through the UKCRC and will co-ordinate the sharing of best practice and guidance through this group in the future.

Liver Surgery

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What specific actions they are taking to improve access to liver surgery in the United Kingdom.

Lord Warner: This Government are committed to improving access to elective surgery for all patients. By the end of 2005, the maximum inpatient waiting time will be reduced to six months. By the end of 2008, the maximum wait will be just 18 weeks from general practitioner referral to start of treatment. It is for the National Health Service to decide how best to improve access locally in order to meet these national standards.

NHS: Wheelchairs

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 10 March (WA 92–93), whether they have a policy towards the supply of electric-powered wheelchairs; and
	Whether they are satisfied that those in need of electric-powered wheelchairs are receiving them through the National Health Service.

Lord Warner: The Government's policy towards the supply of electric-powered wheelchairs is that local wheelchair services assess individuals for their mobility needs and provide the appropriate wheelchair in line with their own eligibility criteria.
	We look to primary care trusts to be satisfied that their wheelchair services are meeting local needs.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will next review the process by which therapies are approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; and
	When they last reviewed the process by which the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) formulates and provides guidance; and whether they have made representations to NICE on the length of time such assessments take.

Lord Warner: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent body with an internationally recognised reputation for the robustness of its technology appraisal development process which has been commended by the World Health Organisation. NICE has consulted widely in the development of its technology appraisal process and the latest consultation took place in 2004. Further details are available on the institute's website at www.nice.nhs.uk.
	NICE's timescales for producing guidance are discussed with the institute as part of its liaison with Department of Health officials and Ministers.

MRSA

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 10 March (WA 91), why they did not introduce mandatory surveillance of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections until 2001; and when they first received medical advice which caused them to do so.

Lord Warner: The Government announced in October 2000 the replacement of the previous voluntary surveillance system with the first mandatory national surveillance for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections. This started in April 2001 in order to give time to set up an appropriate data collection system. The decision was made following advice from the Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Steering Group on the feasibility of surveillance in 2000.

Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2004

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, under the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1214), a train driver is exempt as a "carrier who has charge for the time being".

Lord Whitty: The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2004 place certain obligations on the "carrier who has charge for the time being" when a consignment has cleared veterinary checks at the border inspection post (BIP) but is still subject to the regulations. These obligations include transporting products under specified conditions (e.g. in sealed containers) and ensuring that they are accompanied by their documentation from the BIP to their destination in the community. Drivers, pilots and masters of vessels have a degree of influence over the destination of the products which they are transporting. Clearly this is not the case for train drivers. We therefore took the view that it was inappropriate to place this degree of responsibility on them.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received representations from veterinary surgeons in Somerset and Devon (a) on the limited efficiency of controls of cattle movement in restricting bovine tuberculosis and (b) asking for controlled culling of badgers.

Lord Whitty: An open letter from seven veterinary surgeons, with the names of over 340 others listed, about the Government's approach to the control of bovine tuberculosis was received in Defra on 28 February. The list included veterinary surgeons from Somerset and Devon.
	A reply was sent to the first named signatory, Dr Gallagher, on 22 March, with a request that copies be distributed to the other veterinary surgeons listed.

Countryside Agency: The State of the Countryside 2004

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is meant by figure 8.5 on page 115 of The State of the Countryside 2004, published by the Countryside Agency.

Lord Whitty: Figure 8.5 shows the percentage of dependent children (aged 0-19) in all wards (classified as rural or urban) who lived with families which claimed one of the key out-of-work benefits specified by the Department of Work and Pensions in 2003.

Countryside Agency: The State of the Countryside 2004

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Table 8.5 on page 115 of The State of the Countryside 2004 indicates that one-third of all children aged 15 or less belong to a family receiving out-of-work benefits.

Lord Whitty: This figure is not one-third. The aggregate figure for children (aged 0-15) who lived with families which claimed one of the key out-of-work benefits, specified by the Department of Pensions in 2003, is 9.9 per cent in rural wards, 22.8 per cent in urban wards and 19.7 per cent across all wards in England.

Countryside Agency: The State of the Countryside 2004

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the figures in table 18.3 on page 231 of The State of the Countryside 2004 are correct; and whether the number of those unemployed in settlements of fewer than 500 is 49,050.

Lord Whitty: Table 18.3 of the Countryside Agency's State of the Countryside 2004 report shows economic activity count by settlement size band, and the figures, sourced from the 2001 census, are correct. It shows that 49,050 people living in settlements with a population fewer than 500 were classified as "Economically Active: Unemployed (aged between 16 and 74)" on census day, 2001. This is equivalent to 2 per cent of people aged 16 to 74 living in settlements with a population of fewer than 500.
	Table 18.3 has typographical errors: all the commas have been misplaced by one digit to the left.

Countryside Agency: The State of the Countryside 2004

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their definition of "hectare gridsquare" as used on page 274 of The State of the Countryside 2004.

Lord Whitty: The term "hectare grid square" is the smallest geographical unit to be classified by the new rural and urban classifications. The methodology behind the new classifications of rural and urban areas involved overlaying a grid (the system of numbering squares for map references) on digital maps of England and Wales. Each grid square represents one hectare; there are approximately 35 million hectare grid squares covering England and Wales.

Salmon Fishing

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent the catch and release system of fishing for salmon on salmon rivers has resulted in the preservation of salmon stocks; whether it has changed levels of participation in the sport of fly-fishing for salmon; whether it has changed levels of tourism in Scotland; and whether it has affected employment in the areas involved.

Lord Whitty: In the past five years, nearly 50 per cent of the total salmon rod catch in England and Wales has been rebased, amounting to a total of about 40,000 salmon. Records of the numbers of salmon caught and released by anglers in Scottish salmon rivers have risen from less than 10 per cent in 1994 to 55 per cent in 2003, the most recent year for which data are available. The majority of these fish are expected to have survived to spawn and will thus have contributed to the better preservation of stocks.
	No details are available for fly-fishing for salmon specifically. However, various studies suggest that angling effort in Scotland has not decreased as a result of the increasing adoption of catch and release.
	In a report by the Tourism and Recreation Research Institute of Edinburgh University published in 1982, the estimated total number of salmon and sea trout angler rod days for Scotland was 373,703. A report produced by Mackay Consultants in 1989, estimated a total number of salmon and sea trout angler rod days of 434,900. In the report The Economic Impact of Game and Coarse Angling in Scotland, produced in 2004 for the Scottish Executive, by Glasgow Caledonian University and Cogentsi Research international Ltd, the estimated annual number of angler days in salmon and sea trout fishing in Scotland was 545,048.
	Limited information is available on the impact of salmon and sea trout angling on employment. In the Mackay report, a total of 3,360 full time job equivalents was estimated. In the 2004 report for the Scottish Executive, salmon and sea trout angling was estimated to support some 2,200 full-time job equivalents. However, these studies are not necessarily directly comparable because of differences the study methods and multipliers used.

Committee on Radioactive Waste Management: Dr Keith Baverstock

Lord Jenkin of Roding: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received a report from the independent assessor appointed to review the recent suspension of Dr Keith Baverstock from the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management; and what action they propose to take on this matter.

Lord Whitty: The report of the independent assessor has been received and sponsoring Ministers for the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) are considering the action to be taken in light of it.

Counter-terrorist Checks

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will instruct public sector organisations which require Criminal Records Bureau security clearance for access to their establishments to accept counter-terrorist checks where an external candidate already has that clearance.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Under Her Majesty's Government's policy on security vetting, there are established arrangements for individuals requiring a counter-terrorist check (CTC) to be checked against the National Collection of Criminal Records. These records do not include details of people thought to be unsuitable to work with young people or vulnerable adults. Such information is held by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). It would, therefore, be inappropriate to assume that the fact that a person holds a current CTC clearance would necessarily mean that they fulfil the criteria to pass a CRB check.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they minute meetings between the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, the Lord Birt, and (a) the Prime Minister, and (b) other members of the Cabinet.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Minutes of meetings are taken in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance on private office records. I have arranged for copies of the guidance to be placed in the Library. It can also be accessed online at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/recordsmanagement/advice/pdf/popapersguidance.pdf.

Duchy of Lancaster: Representations to BBC Staff

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many representations, formal or informal, have been made to BBC news and current affairs personnel by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and his staff since 1 March.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Ministers, and some members of their staff, have contact from time to time with journalists and editors from the media to discuss a range of issues.